deadline
UK: ˈdɛdlaɪn | US: ˈdɛdˌlaɪn
n. a time or date by which something must be completed
n. (historical) a line in a prison beyond which prisoners could be shot
The word "deadline" originated in the mid-19th century during the American Civil War, referring to a literal line (often marked in prison camps) beyond which prisoners would be shot if they crossed. The "dead" component emphasized the fatal consequence. By the early 20th century, it evolved metaphorically in journalism to denote the time limit for submitting work, where missing it meant the work was "dead" (unusable). The morphemes reflect this duality: "dead" (irreversible consequence) + "line" (boundary or limit).
The project deadline is Friday at 5 PM.
She missed the deadline for her college application.
Journalists often work under tight deadlines.
The team extended the deadline by two days.
Historically, crossing the deadline in prison camps was a death sentence.